Hiking

Take only memories, leave only footprints. Your visit to an Illinois state park can be pleasant if you abide by a few simple rules. Stay on designated hiking trails. Don't pick any flowers. Confine your pet to a leash. Wear comfortable walking or hiking shoes. Take water with you on long hikes. Use insect repellent to help ward off mosquitos and other insects.Be sure to protect yourself from wood ticks, carriers of Rocky Mountain spotted fever, and deer ticks, carriers of Lyme disease. Deer ticks thrive in woods and fields with tall, dense grass. Wear a long sleeve shirt, button your collar and stuff your trouser cuffs into the tops of your socks. Wear light-colored clothing to better see is any ticks have attached to your cloths. Examine your clothing and skin frequently for ticks and also check your pets. Ticks prefer warm, moist areas, so pay particular attention to inspecting your groin, armpits and scalp. Carefully remove any attached tick immediately with tweezers. You may also want to preserve it in a small bottle of alcohol should symptoms appear later. Symtoms can be flu-like and some victims suffer a red, bull's eye rash with a clear center around the site of the tick bite. Not all deer ticks carry Lyme disease, but if suspect you are bitten, contact your doctor. Lyme disease can be treated with antibiotics, and patients can recover fully when treated.